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The Man on the Train

Play trailer Poster for The Man on the Train R 2003 1h 30m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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92% Tomatometer 114 Reviews 79% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Milan (Johnny Hallyday) is a beleaguered old thief who rolls into a small French town with the aim of robbing its bank. However, a chance meeting with a local professor, Monsieur Manesquier (Jean Rochefort), delays his scheme and leads to an unexpected friendship. Milan has grown tired of his adventurous life on the run and wishes to retire in peace; Manesquier craves the danger he's never known in his bookish existence. Their shared admiration and envy inspires each to follow his dream.
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The Man on the Train

The Man on the Train

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Critics Consensus

A lovely, contemplative character study with two wonderful performances at its center.

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Critics Reviews

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Jan Stuart Newsday 06/27/2003
3/4
Patrice Leconte's fanciful odd-couple drama oozes flavorful, provincial atmosphere. Go to Full Review Lisa Kennedy Denver Post 06/06/2003
4/4
It is a perfected fable flashing across a screen. Go to Full Review Terry Lawson Detroit Free Press 06/05/2003
4/4
The movie has the kind of texture and depth that will make true movie-lovers sigh with the pure cinematic, human grace of it all. Go to Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy 06/11/2023
3/4
Start with Mark Twain’s The Prince and the Pauper, drain it of all adventure and period flavor, replace that with plenty of existential angst, serve it up in a coat of Gallic glaze, and the result would look something like Man On the Train. Go to Full Review Yasser Medina Cinefilia 07/18/2020
7/10
I'm pleasantly surprised by this crime drama directed by Patrice Leconte. The humor, the dialogues that bear the stamp of sobriety and a very intriguing plot keeps it away from artifice. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand 12/16/2017
... a well-tuned character piece starring screen legend Jean Rochefort and French pop icon Johnny Hallyday as strangers with nothing in common whose chance meeting sparks a powerful friendship. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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dave s @RT68722908 07/18/2022 When Milan (Johnny Halladay), a taciturn man who asks no questions, arrives in a small French town with the intent of robbing a bank, he meets Manesquier (Jean Rochefort), a retired poetry teacher who is looking for friendship. Over a short period of time, the two seemingly disparate men bond and reflect on the nature of their lives and the dreams that have slipped through their fingers. The Man on the Train is an intriguing but periodically frustrating character study of two men apparently adrift in life with no discernable course charted for the future. As always, Rochefort is excellent and Halladay does a surprisingly decent job as the hardened criminal. While the ending may cause some confusion for audiences, it is certainly food for thought and will provoke discussion after the credits roll. See more 12/08/2017 Intricate, deep, mysterious- even better the second time through. See more 07/06/2015 Interesting premise that had it's moments but very dull, fairly cheesy, and boring in end. See more 01/03/2014 An interesting film in which two old timers meet and become friends each one longing for the lifestyle of the other until death separate them to better reconcile their own aspirations. Interesting & entertaining. See more 09/21/2013 another one that worked 'cos of the two leads. a tad too "quiet" for tonight though a quietly enthralling watch it was. ("quietly" funny too) See more 04/17/2013 This was excellent. Donald Sutherland remake next. See more Read all reviews
The Man on the Train

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Cast & Crew

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Patrice Leconte

Director

Jean Rochefort

Manesquier

Johnny Hallyday

Milan

Jean-François Stévenin

Luigi

Charlie Nelson

Max

Pascal Parmentier

Sadko

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The Man on the Train

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Movie Info

Synopsis Milan (Johnny Hallyday) is a beleaguered old thief who rolls into a small French town with the aim of robbing its bank. However, a chance meeting with a local professor, Monsieur Manesquier (Jean Rochefort), delays his scheme and leads to an unexpected friendship. Milan has grown tired of his adventurous life on the run and wishes to retire in peace; Manesquier craves the danger he's never known in his bookish existence. Their shared admiration and envy inspires each to follow his dream.
Director
Patrice Leconte
Producer
Philippe Carcassonne
Screenwriter
Claude Klotz
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Cine B
Rating
R (Some Language|Brief Violence)
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
Canadian French
Release Date (Theaters)
May 9, 2003, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 19, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA)
$2.5M
Runtime
1h 30m
Sound Mix
Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)